GraceKennedy (GK) is moving swiftly to support its team members and restore full operations across Jamaica to serve our communities, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
Hundreds of GraceKennedy team members live and work in the parishes hardest hit by the hurricane, including more than 540 across St Elizabeth, St James, Trelawny, and Westmoreland.
Frank James, Group CEO of GraceKennedy Limited, explained, “We know that many of our team members and their families have been directly affected by Hurricane Melissa, particularly those based in our manufacturing and distribution facilities, Hi-Lo stores, and GKMS and FGB branches in the west. As we support national relief efforts across the island, we are also focused on ensuring that our affected team members receive the care, resources, and support they need.”
Since immediately following the passage of the hurricane, GK’s security and disaster response teams have been on the ground delivering care packages to affected team members and communities across western Jamaica. The company has also activated its Employee Assistance Programme, which provides critical supplies, counselling, and other forms of support for team members facing personal and family challenges as they work to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of the storm. These efforts will continue in the days and weeks ahead.
“We were in Montego Bay, Negril and Sav this week, and the response from our team on the ground was overwhelming,” James shared. “They have been through so much. We were grateful to see them and to offer some relief. More help will be coming soon.”
“Team members we have not been able to contact yet are encouraged to reach out to their manager, HR representative, or our dedicated company hotlines as soon as possible to let us know they are ok,” said James.
GK team members can get in touch with the company by calling or sending a WhatsApp or text message to:
- Flow: 658-220-3785
- Digicel: 876-850-9487
Meanwhile, GK has also been conducting damage assessments of its facilities islandwide and working diligently to reopen all facilities as quickly and safely as possible. The company has confirmed that operations on the eastern end of the island did not sustain significant damage and have fully resumed, including its head office at 42–56 Harbour Street, which reopened last week.
Most of GK’s food and financial services facilities across the island have reopened, with several resuming operations as early as Wednesday, October 29, the day after Hurricane Melissa hit.
GraceKennedy’s main Distribution Centre in St Catherine resumed operations on October 29 to help ensure the steady supply of food and other essential goods across Jamaica. All Hi-Lo Food Stores in Kingston, St Andrew, and St Catherine reopened last week, including the Portmore and Liguanea branches which reopened on October 29, while the Montego Bay (Church Street) and Negril (Boardwalk) locations resumed operations earlier this week, to the relief of many customers in western Jamaica.
A total of 136 GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) locations are now open across the island, representing 66% of its agent network. These include branches in the hard-hit parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and St James, including in the towns of Santa Cruz and Savanna-la-Mar. Last week, GKMS announced that Western Union transfers to bank accounts and mobile wallets in Jamaica, as well as transfers sent within Jamaica to loved ones, will attract zero fees until November 7. As GKMS continues to restore its agent network, its digital channels – Direct to Bank and the GK One app – remain available 24/7, providing a secure and convenient option for Jamaicans to receive funds locally and from abroad.
GK’s commercial bank, First Global Bank (FGB), has also reopened all its branches, including the Montego Bay branch, which is currently operating with reduced hours; and all FGB ATMs are operational.
Customers are encouraged to follow the official social media accounts of GK’s businesses for ongoing updates on locations and operating hours.
James added, “The dedication of our team in getting operations back up and running, while looking out for one another and for our customers, is nothing short of inspiring. Even in the face of hardship, the GK We Care ethos, and our spirit of togetherness and determination continues to shine.”
